Columbia Digest

"Beginnings," featuring the works of Joan Bevelaqua, Nancy Linden, George Sakkal and John Brandon Sills, will open Jan. 15 and run until March 18 at the Meeting House Gallery. The exhibit is open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. A reception to meet the artists will be held from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Jan. 15. The gallery is in the Oakland Mills Interfaith Center at 5885 Robert Oliver Place, Columbia. Information: 410-730-4090.

The Oakland Mills Community Association presents the Arte Flamenco dance troupe on Jan. 29 at The Other Barn, 5851 Robert Oliver Place. The troupe is directed by Natalie Monteleon, who created it while living in New Orleans and re-created it here. Arte Flamenco has performed at Artscape and the Latino Festival in Baltimore, the Kennedy Center, the Columbia Art Festival and the Takoma Park Folk Festival. Tickets are $10 in advance, $5 for students and $15 at the door. Information: 410-730-1129 or go to brownpapertickets.

The Columbia Association offers a Women-Only Swim Time from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Columbia Swim Center, 10400 Cross Fox Lane. The pool is shallow, warmed to 80-82 degrees, guarded by female lifeguards and the windows are covered. Free for association members. Resident nonmembers with an association resident card pay $16 per visit; general admission is $25. Nonmembers are welcome to a free trial of two admissions. Information: 410-381-1096 or go to columbiapools.org.

The Bernice Kish Gallery at Slayton House, 10400 Cross Fox Lane, is accepting applications to exhibit at the gallery for the 2012 season. Applications are available at the gallery or by email to cjblack@columbiavillages.org. Information: 410-730-3987 or wlca@columbiavillages.org.

Singles social group

The Phoenix Cultural Singles Group, a Columbia social group for those 50 and older, meets from 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. Sundays at the Oakland Mills Interfaith Center, 5885 Robert Oliver Place in the Oakland Mills Village Center. Coffee, tea and a light snack are served. The group plans events and trips. Information: 410-997-0739.

Around town

English conversation The Howard County Public Library, 10375 Little Patuxent Parkway, offers "Let's Get Together: English Conversation Club." It's a chance for those for whom English is a second language to practice speaking and understanding English in a group setting. The club meets at 9:30 a.m. Mondays and 7:30 p.m. Thursdays. Register with the library before your first meeting. Information: 410-313-7850.

Wii Club Howard County Department of Recreation and Parks offers a Wii Club for those 55 and older from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Tuesdays at the Bain Center, 5470 Ruth Keeton Way. The first game is free. Information: 410-313-7213.

Single Again Changing Focus' Single Again, a nonprofit program for adults who are separated, widowed or in the process of divorce, provides weekly presentations and small-group discussions in a confidential, comfortable atmosphere. The group meets at 7 p.m. Mondays at First Presbyterian Church, 9325 Presbyterian Circle. An orientation for new members is offered at 6:30 p.m. Information: changingfocus.org.

Chair yogaThe East Columbia 50 Plus Center at the East Columbia branch of the Howard County Public Library, 6600 Cradlerock Way, offers chair yoga, an easy introduction to yoga that helps ease the pain of arthritis, reduce fatigue and improve circulation and breathing, at 10 a.m. Tuesdays. Cost is $25 per month. Reservations: 410-313-7680.

Also at the 50 Plus Center:

•Line dancing with Mary McCormick will be held at 3:30 p.m. Mondays for advanced dancers, 4:30 p.m. for beginners. Cost is $43.

•Age Well Exercise with Joyce Diatoms will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Cost for a 12-week session is $48.

•A class to reduce the fear of falling and increase the activity levels of older adults will be held from 10 a.m. to noon Tuesdays. Cost is $24.

•A belly dance class will be held from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays. Camilla Karma will teach hip movements, stretches, arm and hand techniques, and veil dancing. Cost is $25 per month.

•A yoga class with Smite Javari is offered from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays. The cost is $24 per month.